1917
22 June 1917
KAND0S
PROGRESS ASSOCIATION FORMED.
(From our own Correspondent.)
A public meeting was held in Kandos on Monday evening for the purpose of discussing the formation of a Progress Association. A good representation of Kandos attended, which enabled a strong committee to be formed. The officers elected were: - Mr. J. P. McGrath, president; Messrs. Smith, Barton, Walsh Bros., Richards, Hanson, vice-presidents; Mr. E. H. Freeman, secretary; Mr. Strong, treasurer1
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16 August 1917
Progress Association. - The Progress Association held its usual fortnightly meeting at the Public School on Tuesday evening, August 7, when Mr .J. T. McGrath (President) presided. There was a large attendance of members. Reports were read by the hon. secretary, Mr. E. H. Freeman, from Mr. W. G. Ashford, M.L.A.. Minister for Lands, re police protection for Kandos. Mr. Ashford promised immediate attention to the matter. Five new members were added to the Association's list, making a total of 40 members in all. The approved Public site was placed in front of the Association, being a two-acre block donated by the Cement Company, and it was decided that the site be accepted, and that a notification be sent to Mr. W. E. James, Inspector of Schools, Mudgee, also a letter to the Cement Company sincerely thanking them for their generous donation of the ground2
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1919
13 February 1919
KANDOS PROGRESS ASSOCIATION.
At a meeting of the Kandos Progress Association, presided over by Mr. A. P. Meany, the president, held on Tuesday evening. February 4 it was decided that in order to be prepared against an outbreak of the plague in Kandos a sub-committee be appointed to place their services at the disposal of Dr. Hansard for the purpose of rendering any assistance that may be required. Messrs. H. Agnew, P. Cottrell, E. Crossley, A. Foster, E. H. Freeman, C. P. Hansen, T. H. Jones, A. B. Kempster (acting secretary), A. P. Meany (president), J. Owen, and J. C. Strong (treasurer), volunteered for the work, and the acting secretary was instructed to notify Dr. Hansard accordingly. It was suggested that members of the Association should do their best to influence other residents to wear the mask when visiting the railway station.
Considerable discussion took place on the reasons why the residents of Kandos had not availed themselves of the opportunity to purchase good drinking water from the Shire Council when it was provided by that body at ¼d per gallon. It was generally felt that the extra charge made by the local water carriers was responsible for the fact that only 5s worth of water had been purchased from the Council, and that neither the Council nor the Progress Association were to blame for the loss of £40 to the Council, which was involved through the water supplied to Kandos on December 26 and 27 last not being used.
A member asked if Mr. Robins had the right to put a lock on the pump of a well originally sunk by him under the direction of the Council for the supply of water to the residents of Kandos.
The chairman ruled the question out of order, saying that it was a matter for the Shire Council to deal with.
Mr. Jas. Owen asked if the Cement Company could be approached re supplying water.
Mr. H. Agnew reported that some time ago he was a member of a deputation which had waited upon the Company to ask them if they could reserve some of their water for drinking purposes for the residents of Kandos and protect it against impurity caused by horses, dogs, etc., getting into it.
The Company had replied that they were quite prepared to do so if the Progress Association would guarantee to keep the fences in good repair and prevent people and animals from putting the water to improper uses.
As the Progress Association could not give this guarantee the negotiations had fallen through.
Mr. A. B. Kempster (acting secretary) reported that he had interviewed Mr. F. S. Richards, superintendent of the Cement Works, and, in accordance with instruction received at a previous meeting, had asked him on behalf of the Progress Association, for permission to take samples of the Company's water for analysing purposes to ascertain whether it was fit for human consumption, pointing out that rumors had been floating about the township for some time that it was not, and that it was desirable in the best interests of all parties concerned to settle the question definitely one way or the other.
Mr. Richards had met his request in very friendly and reasonable spirit, and not only immediately granted it, but also offered to supply sample bottles for the purpose, suggesting at the same time that the Progress Association should obtain samples of all the water in the district.
The acting secretary's report was received, and he was instructed to secure samples of water as suggested by Mr. Richards.
The Miners' Association, through one of their members who is also a member of the Progress Association. Mr. H. Agnew, invited the latter body to appoint a delegate to approach Mr. F. S. Richards, superintendent of the Cement Works with their representative, asking him to use his influence with the men engaged at the works to make a proper use of the lavatories provided by the Company. Mr. A. B. Kempster was appointed to act in conjunction with Mr. H. Agnew.
The acting secretary was instructed to write to the member for the district, Captain W. F. Dunn, M.L.A., asking him to make the necessary representations to the authorities to secure the dedication of the sanitary site at the earliest possible moment, so as to avoid any further delay in the inauguration of the new sanitary system for Kandos Messrs. H. and R. Scroder, J. Urwin, J. Wauneck, and R. M. Fowler were proposed as new members.
The treasurer, Mr. J. C. Strong, reported that the Association had a credit balance of £4/0/10 in hand3
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18 September 1919
Rylstone News.
MR. RICHARDS ON KANDOS MUNICIPALISM.
Alleged Inaccuracies.
In the course of his address to the members at the Kandos Progress Association, on the question of Kandos' claim to a municipality, Mr. Richards failed to accurately state the true position of Shire administration. Mr. Richards states that a mutual agreement was made with the Council whereby the streets should be cleared and grubbed in American fashion - as understood here its "Yankee grubbing," that is clearing off green timber level with the ground. That arrangement was, it is said, made with the previous Council, and whilst not doubting Mr. Richards' assertion, a thorough search of the office has failed to reveal anything that would disclose it.
In reference to the rates, Mr. Richards says £800 has been collected in 1, 2, 3, and 4 Divisions, and only £156 has been spent. This statement is misleading, inasmuch as that it does not distinguish between the rates collected in B. and C. Divisions of the Shire in which the Urban areas are respectively situated, and also because it places the blame on Councillor Macfarlane and Jones. The facts are that Nos. 1 and 2 areas are situated in C. Division and 3 and 4 in B. Division, which President Fletcher and Councillor Jennings represent. The rates from Nos. 1 and 2 area approximately amounted to £600, £200 of which has been expended in Council work, and the balance, something over £400, which is an accumulation of the two years' rates, has been banked, and contracts and other arrangements are now complete for the expenditure.
I am an advocate for Kandos claim for a municipality, but I know there is not the remotest possibility of the ambition being attained in the next decade. There have been many contributory causes to the chief ????? of Kandos streets present state. Chief of these is, as Mr. Richards frankly admits, the impossibility of the Company fully complying with the Local Government Ordinances 99-100. How are we to compensate for this impossibility to perform? There is only one way out of it and that is that the taxpayers must pay for the improvements if they want them.
It's a parrot cry in Kandos, "Look at our streets," but it must be remembered that this Council never took over No. 1 Division, yet it recognises its obligations to the ratepayers. It turned round and grubbed Angus Avenue, and made improvements in the cross streets, but I, as one of the representatives of Kandos, have closely watched the difficulties that many ratepayers have had to contend with in putting a roof tree over their heads, and I am absolutely opposed to burdening these people with any further taxation.
The tax, viz., 5d in the £. is sufficient for them to pay, and it will gradually improve the streets. There is no particular haste. Let us do the work of town improvement so that its doing will not oppress the ratepayers, for it must be understood that all improvements in an urban area must be made out of the funds raised within the area. Any additions to these funds, such as the £180 Councillors Macfarlane and Jones have secured for expenditure within the area, are the direct results of representatives' interest in that portion of their Division.
Thus the ratepayers of Kandos, if they will think for themselves, will readily understand that their interests have been in no way neglected by their present representatives. If the ratepayers of Kandos require the rapid improvement of their streets, they have only to make the request, and bear the costs - and it will be done. But it has to be borne in mind that a water and lighting rate will come in the near future. This, added to the general, special, and sanitary rate, is going to total more than some imagine. With these taxes in prospect I certainly advise the ratepayers to go slow.
Let the townspeople breathe, and do not trouble them with heavy Shire taxations after the exhausting years they have suffered. If Kandos takes on a municipality it will find the taxation powers of a municipal council treble that of the Shire. This will not trouble the rich man, but the poor, struggling workman, whose hands are his capital, will be harder hit in the way of taxation under municipal laws than he will be under Shire ordinances4
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